🏁 Your Motivation (Start Here) We’ve recently redesigned this entire community around you — the runners. In these early days, every new member helps shape the culture here. Our goal is simple: Every runner makes their first post within 24 hours of joining. So we created the 3-Minute Runner Kickstart Challenge. Think of your introduction as the first entry in your training log inside the Hub. This is where your running journey with the community begins. ——————————————————————————— ⚡ THE 3-MINUTE RUNNER KICKSTART CHALLENGE ⏱ Takes about 3 minutes Complete this CHALLENGE to officially join the community: ⬜ 1. Drop a "BOOM SHAKALAKA" Below (30 seconds) That's how we do it here — comment below to kick off your challenge and let the community know you've arrived. ⬜ 2. Introduce Yourself (1 minute) Every new runner starts here. Create your first post in 👋 Introduce Yourself and tell us: - How long you've been running - Your current goal (5K / 10K / Half / Marathon / PB) - Where you're running from 🌍 Coach Nick and the community regularly welcome new runners — so expect a few hellos once you post. ⬜ 3. Check Your DMs (1 minute) By now, I've sent you a personal welcome message. Open it, read it, answer my question — and drop a BOOM SHAKALAKA when you're done. ✅ (Most runners who complete the challenge reach Level 2 within their first week) ——————————————————————————— You’re officially inside! This isn’t a community where runners sit back and observe — it’s where runners show up, support each other, and improve together. Everything here is designed to help you improve your running through: • structured training • community support • consistent progress • earned rewards Come back and share your first win when it happens. ——————————————————————————— 🏆 How The Community Works Your progress in the Hub happens in three simple ways: 1️⃣ Engage to Level Up • Create posts • Comment on other runners’ progress • Ask questions • Support fellow runners

Welcome — runners from around the world train together here. You’re officially part of the team — and we’re glad you’re here. This community is built for runners of all levels who want structure, support, and real progress. Whether you’re starting your running journey or chasing your next PB, this is your space to learn, improve, and connect with like-minded runners around the world. 🎁 What You Get — Completely Free ✔ A supportive running community for motivation, feedback, and accountability ✔ Access to training resources and community learning content ✔ Strength & Conditioning workouts ✔ Nutritional guidance and tips ✔ Weekly expert insights, discussions, and coaching advice. ✔ The chance to learn from runners around the world ✔ Monthly Webinar with Coach Nick ✔ Community leaderboards and rewards ✔ A free month of TrainingPeaks Inside TrainingPeaks you’ll be able to: • Follow a structured training plan built by Coach Nick for YOU • Sync your workouts directly to your watch (Garmin, Apple Watch, Polar, etc.) • Track your progress and training performance over time And yes — joining the community is completely free. You get access to the discussions, training resources and community support at no cost. Runners who want deeper coaching can upgrade later — but the community itself is free to join and participate in. Just show up, participate, improve and win rewards! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🗺 The Runner Map Inside the Hub you’ll find the Community Map. This allows runners around the world to connect. You can: • See where other members are based • Connect with runners when travelling • Find local training partners • Organise runs with other Hub members If you're travelling or looking for a running partner — the map is the place to start. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🏆 Community Rewards We believe runners who contribute should be rewarded.

So I had just returned from the local Parkrun and went back out to lock my car when I nearly stumbled upon a little surprise guest in my path. Sure enough the weather is warming up and they are on the move. Lo and behold an eastern brown snake, having the second most toxic venom in the world of all land snakes and responsible for the most fatalities of all snake bites in Australia. Well the little fella slithered away and lived to bite another day. At least there shouldn’t be any rat problem around my house. As for Parkrun, a little less exciting. My second run back from injury and still finding it a struggle to keep going in the higher temperature and humidity. The temp this morning was in the high 20’s and humidity around 80 percent. My legs definitely felt heavy and a little sore from training during the week, as I tried to return to my normal routine of strength sessions and running albeit with a somewhat reduced load. I tried to run a conservative pace and even inserted a few 30 second walk breaks as did struggle with the recent increase in the temperature. Time wasn’t anything startling, 24:57 a few seconds slower than last weekend. The good news at least is that my calf soreness seems to have gone away so I am hoping I can return to a program aimed at getting my times down again. Cheers, Michael

Last night was marked by the arrival of the first thunderstorms of the season here in my part of North Queensland. Along with the build up in temperature and the humidity in the tropical north, there is also the movement of creatures, some of which I’ve mentioned previously and some I was reminded of only this afternoon when I went out for my first speed session since my recovery from calf strain. I managed to dodge the spur winged plovers on the way out to my quiet back road between the sugar cane fields when I felt these little impacts on my face and arms, Oh no flying ants! With the start of the rainy season these insects decide its time to divide forces and take wing in search of new areas to colonise. The air is literally thick with them. They seem to be particularly attracted to running singlets as I found out once again. There are a few things about flying ants, They don’t taste very nice , they are particularly difficult to cough up once swallowed,( trust me, its hard to avoid) and they sting when they get in your eyes. Very good for practising nasal breathing. Hopefully my next run is a little less eventfull

Did you hear that Paris is not going to have cups at the aid stations? We must bring our own refillable bottles. This opens up a new challenge for me. Vest? Waste belt? Not thrilled either way.